Stuck at the Border

(National Post – David H. Bradley, Canadian Trucking Alliance)

The obstacles that Canadian trucks face at the U.S.-Canada border is a major threat to our economy

Two-thirds (by value) of Canada’s trade with the United States moves by truck. So, I often get asked the question: How are things at the border these days?

Before answering that, it is important to understand that North America – especially its manufacturing regions – has been in a freight recession for at least two years. Initially, the reduction in freight volumes – particularly a drop-off in southbound shipments – reflected the impact from the appreciation in the value of the Canadian dollar, and ongoing problems in the auto and forestry sectors.

What had been the Canadian truckers’ traditional prime routes, and the major source of the industry’s growth over the previous 20 years, has been drying up. The onset of the financial meltdown and a world-wide recession has only served to exacerbate what had been underway for some time. Read more here.